BATU GAJAH: Chulio, a five-year-old German Shepherd, has been awarded a medal of appreciation for finding the body of an elderly man in Kampung Baru Nalla here earlier this month.

Batu Gajah deputy OCPD Supt Tan Boon Hooi placed the medal around Chulio's neck, witnessed by OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Roy Suhaimi Sarif during the district police monthly gathering on Tuesday (May 31).

Chulio was also presented with a bag of kibble.

ACP Mohamad Roy said Chulio was deployed on May 11, the third day into the search and rescue operation for the missing 85-year-old man.

"The weather was hot and not conducive for Chulio to locate the victim.

"On the fourth day, Chulio was sent out again at 10am and in about half an hour he found the decomposed body of the victim near a stream surrounded by thick undergrowth," he said.

"No one would have thought to go there and we wouldn't have found the body without Chulio.

"Based on the clothes on the body, we believed it was of the missing victim," he added.

ACP Mohamad Roy said it was the third time the elderly man had gone missing, adding that the case has been classified as sudden death and ruled out any foul play.

"We are still waiting for the DNA report to confirm his identity," he said.